Sunday, July 29, 2012

RFA Offers the Olympic PandaTo commemorate the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, Radio Free Asia is offering a special Panda bear QSL card. The card is a reproduction of the Olympic pin that two RFA reporters will carry to London during coverage of the Olympics. This is also the third panda pin and QSL design, that began in 2008 with the Bejing Olympics. All valid reception reports will be confirmed from July 1-August 31, 2012. More information about Radio Free Asia, including the current broadcast frequency schedule, is available at www.rfa.org/ . RFA encourages listeners to submit reception reports, whether from the general listening audience or avid DXer, and may be submitted at www.techweb.rfa.org (follow the QSL REPORTS link). Reception reports are also accepted by email at qsl@rfa.org , and for anyone without Internet access, reception reports can be mailed to:

Friday, July 20, 2012

Coming up this week on "A Prairie Home Companion", the first of the summer compilation series, a programme devoted to the family vacation. Or more specifically, the family car trip. Joe Ely sings "The Highway Is My Home", Gillian Welch and David Rawlings appear as hitchhikers, The Wailin' Jennys sing "Going Down the Road" and Studs Terkel picks Dusty and Lefty up roadside in The Lives of the Cowboys. Plus, Al Franken and the cautionary tale of Florian and Myrtle Krebsbach and how important it is not to leave your spouse in a gas station convenience mart. In Lake Wobegon, how a trip to the Grand Canyon can change a young person's outlook on life.

In Africa and Europe: 1100 BST / 1200 CET / 1300 CAT

Asia CallingSunday, July 22 2012: Asia Calling

This week on "Asia Calling":

Tropical Reefs on the Brink: 85 percent of the world’s coral reefs are under threat, which means thousands of fish species could lose their habitat. One of the biggest threats is cyanide fishing; it catches large numbers of fish but kills the coral. Indonesia exports more fish caught by cyanide fishing than any other country. It’s part of the Coral Triangle, which covers six countries and includes the world’s most diverse reefs and it is crucial to stop the destruction. Experts say action is needed fast. Last week they came together at the International Coral Reef Symposium in Australia to look for solutions. Doddy Rosadi joined them in the northern city of Cairns.

Korea’s Iron Lady for President: South Korea’s Park Geun-hye says she’ll run to become the nation’s first female president in next December’s election, but is this a step forward for the country or a step back? She’s the daughter of the late military dictator President Park Chung-hee. Many credit him with kick-starting Korea’s economic growth in the 1960s, but he also cracked down on civil rights and democratic freedoms. Park still has to win her party’s nomination next month but polling on likely presidential candidates show she’s in the lead. However, some say she’s going to have a tough time winning over progressive voters, and especially young women. Jason Strother reports from Seoul.

Indian Kids on a Tightrope: India has the highest number of child workers in the world, and 60 million of them don’t go to school. India’s Constitution prohibits employing children under 14 years old but many of these kids earn desperately needed income for their families; and almost no child is too young. Jasvinder Sehgal meets 4-year old Arjun Ram, the breadwinner for his family.

Dealing with the Dead in Malaysia: Malaysia’s Malacca state has been a cultural crossroads for centuries. Its strategic location along one of the world’s busiest shipping routes made it a prize for merchants and colonists alike. Cultures from across the world mixed here and remain along with local rituals which include customs and religious beliefs around death. Clarence Chua finds out just how Malaccans deal with their dead.

In North America: 2230 ET / 1930 PT

In Europe: 2100 BST / 2200 CET

In Africa and Asia 1100 UTC / 1300 CET / 1200 CAT

Radio AustraliaSaturday, July 21 2012: Radio Australia

"Innovations" is a showcase of Australian design, discoveries, invention, engineering and research skills.

In Europe: 0800 BST / 0900 CET

In Africa and Asia 1730 UTC / 1830 CET / 1930 CAT

Radio GuangdongSaturday, July 21and Sunday, July 22 2012: Radio Guangdong

Radio Guangdong, established in October 1949, is a leading radio group in south China. Radio Guangdong programmes cover political, economic, social and cultural issues; programmes about Guangdong, programmes about Guangdong people and programmes linking Guangdong with the world.

In “My Guangdong”: as the London Olympics is just around the corner, the events in celebration of the games unfold in Guangdong. What events will be held and in what ways has England been showcased to local residents? We talk to Julia Skorupska, Consul for Political and Economic affairs at Guangzhou’s British Consulate to find out.

Radio New Zealand InternationalSaturday, July 21, Sunday, July 22 and Monday, July 23 2012: Radio New Zealand International

RNZI is New Zealand's only shortwave station, broadcasting to the Island nations of the Pacific. Its broadcasts range from Papua New Guinea in the west across to French Polynesia in the east, covering all South Pacific countries in between.

In the headlines this week: The Fiji regime is at loggerheads with its own Constitution Commission / This week's alleged plot to assassinate Fiji's leader is seen as putting a twist on the relationship between New Zealand and Fiji / Controversy around Vanuatu's plans to lure Chinese investors / The quality of water in Tuvalu called catastrophic by a UN investigator / Concern at the money on offer as horse-trading starts following the PNG election / A Tonga media chief denies claims the opposition is being denied access to state radio.

In North America: Mon - Fri 1200 ET / 0900 PT

Sun 1530 ET / 1230 PT

In Africa and the Middle East: 1700 UTC / 1900 CAT

In Asia and the Pacific: 1600 UTC / 0200 AEDT

In Europe: Sun 1400 BST / 1500 CET Sat 0430 BST / 0530 CET

National Public RadioSaturday, July 21 2012: NPR "Fresh Air"

"Fresh Air" with Terry Gross, the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues, is one of public radio's most popular programmes. Though "Fresh Air" has been categorised as a "talk show", it hardly fits the mould. Its 1994 Peabody Award citation credits "Fresh Air" with "probing questions, revelatory interviews and unusual insights". A variety of top publications count Gross among America's leading interviewers. The show gives interviews as much time as needed, and complements them with comments from well-known critics and commentators.

This week's show is featuring a novelist Colson Whitehead. His novel, "Zone One", is now out in paperback. It's a post-apocalyptic tale of Manhattan crippled by a plague and overrun with zombies. His previous novels include "The Intuitionist" about intrigue in the Department of Elevator Inspectors, and "John Henry Days" about the American folklore figure. It was a finalist for the national Book Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize.

In Europe: 1100 BST / 1200 CET

Radio Romania InternationalFriday, July 20 and Saturday, July 21 2012: Radio Romania International

The RRI's regular feature ”A Challenge for the Future” will focus on the increasing power of the media in Romania, after a recent report on freedom of the press showed alarming flaws in the country’s media channels. In ”Practical Guide” you can learn more about travelling by plane.

Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 22 2012: Radio Romania International

This week's "World of Culture" will be discussing famous fountains in Bucharest. Later, the “RRI Encyclopedia” takes a look at Romanian place names on the Moon.

Sunday, July 22 and Monday, July 23 2012: Radio Romania International

"Inside Romania" will take us to Bucharest’s old centre.

Monday, July 23 and Tuesday, July 24 2012: Radio Romania International

"Pro Memoria" is devoted to RRI’s ongoing contest “My cultural Bucharest - From Radio Orchestras to Contemporary Art”. Together with art critic and historian Mihai Oroveanu, the presenters will make an incursion into the history of public monuments in Bucharest.

Tuesday, July 24 and Wednesday, July 25 2012: Radio Romania International

In "Business Club", the team offers a feature on Romanian fisheries.

Wednesday, July 25 and Thursday, July 26 2012: Radio Romania International

Thursday, July 26 and Friday, June 27 2012: Radio Romania International

"Traveller's Guide" is also devoted to RRI’s ongoing contest “My cultural Bucharest - From Radio Orchestras to Contemporary Art” and focuses on accommodation in Bucharest. This week, presenting the hotel that will accommodate the winners of this contest.

Solar activity ranged from low to high levels due to activity from a complex of closely spaced regions in the southern hemisphere. These spotted groups were made up of Regions 1519 (S15, L=107, class/area Hsx/120 on 05 July), 1520 (S16, L=86, class/area Fkc/1460 on 12 July), and 1521 (S21, L=96, class/area Eki/300 on 12 July). Region 1520 grew into a large Fkc spot group with a Beta-Gamma-Delta magnetic configuration with over 1300 millionths in area by 09 July and continued to remain large and magnetically complex as it rotated across the visible disk. Region 1520 produced M1 flares at 09/2307 UTC and 10/0514 UTC, an M2/1f flare at 10/0627 UTC, and a long duration X1/2b flare at 12/1649 UTC. Associated with the X1/2b flare were Type II (1268 km/s) and Type IV radio emissions along with an 800 sfu Tenflare and a geoeffective CME with an estimated plane-of-sky speed of 1453 km/s. Region 1521 produced an M1/1f flare at 14/0458 UTC. Region 1521 continued to grow through the period into an Eki spot group with 300 millionths of area and a Beta-gamma magnetic classification.

A greater than 10 MeV proton event at geosynchronous orbit began at 09/0130 UTC, reached a maximum of 19 pfu at 09/0430 UTC and ended at 09/1445 UTC. This event was likely associated with the 08 July M6/1n flare at 08/1632 UTC from Region 1515 (S18, L=206, class/area Fhc/900 on 06 July). A second greater than 10 MeV proton event began at 12/1835 UTC, reached a maximum of 96 pfu at 12/2225 UTC, and ended at 15/0200 UTC. This event was associated with the X1/2b flare at 12/1649 UTC from Region 1520.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at moderate levels on 09 and 15 July, but reached high levels 10 through 14 July.

Geomagnetic field activity was at unsettled to minor storm levels, on 09 July, with high latitude major storm intervals due to residual CME effects likely associated with the 04 July M1 event. July 10 began with an isolated period of active levels and decreased to quiet to unsettled levels for the remainder of the day. On 11 and 12 July, activity was mostly quiet to unsettled with an isolated active period with high latitude intervals of minor to major storm levels.

Quiet conditions were observed from 13 July till late on 14 July when a CME associated with the 12 July X1/2b flare arrived. At 14/1728 UTC, a shock was observed at the ACE spacecraft followed by a sudden impulse (27 nT) at the Boulder magnetometer at 14/1811 UTC.

Solar wind speed at the ACE spacecraft increased from approximately 350 km/s to 630 km/s while the Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) went south to around -12 nT. At around 15/0600 UTC, solar wind speed was around 600 km/s while the IMF Bz went south around -16 nT and stayed steadily southward through the end of the period. The geomagnetic field responded with active to major storm levels while minor to severe storm conditions were observed at high latitudes through the end of the summary period.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 16 July - 11 August 2012

Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels through 18 July when Region 1520 is due to rotate off the West limb. Very low to low conditions are expected from 19 July through 20 July. Low to moderate conditions are expected from 21 July through the end of the period as old Regions 1515 and 1520 are due to return on 21 July and 01 August respectively.

There is a slight chance for a greater than 10 MeV proton event at geosynchronous orbit until Region 1520 departs the visible disk on 18 July and again from 21 July through 11 August as old Regions 1515 and 1520 return.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels from 16 - 22 July, 24 - 27 July, and 03 - 11 August. High levels are expected on 23 July and again on 28 July - 02 August due to recurrent coronal hole effects.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to begin the period with minor to major storm periods due to the continued influence of the 12 July CME. Conditions will gradually return to quiet to active levels by the end of the day on 16 July. Mostly quiet to unsettled conditions are expected from17 - 21 July. On 22 - 23 July a coronalhole high speed stream is expected to become geoeffective causing mostly unsettled conditions. Quiet to unsettled conditions will prevail from 24 - 26 July. On 27 July, a co-rotating interaction region followed by a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream is expected to become geoeffective. Active to minor storm conditions are expected on 27 July while unsettled to active conditions are expected on 28 - 29 July. Conditions are expected to return to quiet to unsettled levels on 30 July through the end of the forecast period.

The PAL Radio Guides are compiled in Seattle [USA] by our editor-in-chief Bruce Portzer from monitoring reports, official sources and feedback from listeners across the region.

Search the two guides online now by location or frequency or download copies from www.radioheritage.com . Access is free for non-commercial use.

Also available:*Australia Radio Guide covering AM, FM and Digital stations*Pacific Travellers Guides including AM and FM stations in Melanesia,Micronesia and Polynesia*New Zealand Low Power FM Radio Guide

For US postage deals, payment by check or m.o. only. No charge for shipping US postage deals.

ORDER NOW! For all your domestic and international mailings!

NOTE: Stateside envelope prices increase July 1st. Check back to June's special on them and order before the end of the month before prices increase!! New stateside prices will be sent on your request.

Include a self-addressed-envelope for his current price list or request a price list via email at plumdx@msn.com . The prices represent Airmail rate to North America. Prices are subject to change without notice. No mimimum order via check, money order or credit card, but credit card orders under $ 15.00 will incur a $ 2.00 extra charge. Visa, MC, AMEX are accepted. Please include billing and shipping address for AMEX.

Don't forget the DX supplies include European Airmail envelopes (European Air Return and European Air Mailer). These envelopes are perfectly acceptable for mailing to ALL parts of the world, not just to Europe. Their size insures you that a 4"x6" DX QLSs will not come back to you folded which could happen if you used small U.S. sized airmail envelopes. Bill's European Air Return fits into a European Air Mailer without folding. These two envelopes and up to 5 QSL cards weigh less than one ounce. The European Air Return and 2 QSLs weigh less than 10 grams. All envelopes are sealed in plastic for protection. Envelopes are packed 100 per size per package. The 5-/50 Combo comes in one package.

I have used Bill's service for years and find his prices affordable and dependable. All stamps are enclosed within a glassine envelope, so no worries of stamps sticking to the letter, and you can enclose the stamps as is in the letter to the station. If you're looking for the best in stamp service for your overseas mail, contact Bill the Stamp Guy!Gayle Van Horn

Today's Radio Dardasha 7 schedule, is an update from the May 2, 2012 post.

Radio Dardasha 7 is part of the Back to God Ministries International, which partners with Middle East Reformed Fellowship (MERF) and Words of Hope for broadcast, leadership training, litertature production, and discipleship ministries throughout the Middle Eastern countries.

Dardasha, which means Chat, is the name of the Arabic radio program, broadcast seven nights a week immediately following a popular Middle East news program. The program with its interactive format, draws young listeners to the website for additional information and discipleship materials.

Radio Dardasha 7, is broadcast by relay using transmitters via Media Broadcast in Wertchtal, Germany for programming in Arabic and Persian, targeted to Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Argentina11710.8, Radiodifusión Argentina al Exterior, General Pacheco, Buenos Aires, 2155-2205. German until 2155, 2155-2200 interval signal and station IDs in broadcasting languages of RAE, 2200-2202 music and IDs in the same languages. Spanish program starting 2205, SINPO 45444. (Beryozkin). Also heard at 0005-0020, Portuguese talks, Argentine music and then news bulletin - good with slight fading and local noise. (Timofeyev in DXplorer/DX Window 458)

Bahrain9745, Radio Bahrain, Abu Hayan, 2357-0020. Carrier + USB. Audible when Romania signed off at 2357*. Traditional local music, local pop music and ballads. Poor. Weak but readable in noisy conditions. (Alexander in DXplorer/DX Window 458)

Bhutan6034.74, BBS, Sangaygang, Thimphu. Vernacular and English. Several times on Jun 30, I heard the same indigenous instrumental theme music as heard on BBS on 5030 back on Dec 15. From 1427 to 1458 a woman chatting on the phone with different people, 1458 theme music and seemed to be an ID in English, into assume the news in English; poor. At https://www.box.com/s/edda9641bba2a7f7c3bf you can find my recorded music (MP3). Must be full power now, strong enough to overpower Yunnan PBS. However, on Jul 01 found BBS was either off the air or back to running reduced power; random checking from 1258 to 1407 heard no heterodyne at all; nothing on 6034.74; only heard what sounded like the usual Yunnan PBS on 6035.0. Completely different from yesterdays positive BBS reception that overpowered Yunnan PBS. (Howard)

6035.00, BBS, Sangaygang, Thimphu, 1935, Jul 03. Wandering around 6034.997 down to 6034.990, and accompanied by annoying audio hum. Peaks on 147 and 544 hertz away, some peaks seen and heard on that channel; easily to check against web livestream at http://www.bbs.bt/news/video-wan.html . (Bueschel). Also heard at 1958-2310, Jul 05, 06 and 07, talk in Asian language (definately not Mandarin or Vietnamese!) and short local inst music, slight hum, SINPO 44333 // http://www.bbs.bt/news/?page_id=9126# . On Jul 08 a strong carrier noted 2055-2230, but no modulation and no streaming radio audio on the BBS web site (www.bbs.bt ). (Churchill listening on receivers in South Africa and England, Petersen and Timofeyev/DX Window 458)

Bolivia6134.896, Radio Santa Cruz, 0045-0100. Clear signal here of music and Spanish comments between tunes. Additional comments at 0049 over the music, of an unrealted topic. Signal fair-poor. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

Canada9625, CBC North Quebec Service, Sackville , 2154-2207.* Country music, then conversation between a man in vernacular and a woman answering in English (!), SINPO 45444 until 2200, 43443 after 2200, Interference from NHK Japan in Japanese on 9620. (Beryozkin/DX Window 458)

Costa Rica3350 Radio Exterior Espana relay, 0258 in Spanish // 6055. Group pop vocals and a man with talk then time pips at 0300 and a man with “Radio Nacional de Espana - Noticias” and into a man and woman with news - Fair with static crashes. (Mark Coady, Canada/Cumbre DX)

Djibouti4780, Radiodiffusion Télévision de Djibouti, Arta, *0258-0320. Fade out to open carrier until indigenous music opening, Arabic ID and opening announcements and recitations. Fair at first but fading rapidly. (D’Angelo). Also heard with late sign on at *0317-0330, Jul 08, abrupt sign on with Arabic talk. Weak. Poor in noisy conditions. (Alexander in DXplorer/DX Window 458)

Guatemala4055, Radio Verdad at 0211 in Spanish. Male preacher with a slow and deliberate delivery with mentions of “Verdad” and “Jesus” - Fair with static crashes (Mark Coady, Canda/Cumbre DX)

Madagascar6135.00, Radio Madagasikara, Ambohidrano, 1342-1405. For a long time was formerly on 6135.2. Today disturbing Shiokaze (scheduled *1330-1430*) moved to 5985.0 (now blocking Myanmar [5985.84] and causing a heterodyne). French speeches with applause. Some audio problems with segments very muffled, but mostly had good audio, 1356 IDs and advertisements via long path. MP3 audio posted at https://www.box.com/s/326a6cf66ebe36269d20 . Rather surprised to find them doing so well. (Ron Howard, CA)

6040, NBC Port Moresby with NBC National Radio, the Voice of Papua New Guinea programming,randomly from 0817 to 1000, July 12. Amazing how this 10 kW station has fair reception on a daily basis. In Tok Pisin reporting on a “power lackout”, “standby generator”, etc. (so is not entirely in English!). Usual ad for BSP (Bank of South Pacific) in English to local time checks. Many station IDs: “N-B-C National Radio, the Voice of Papua New Guinea.” Today intermittently played some pop songs. Bird call at 0901 into the NBC National news in English with election coverage. Today was not able to confirm all the // stations, but clearly Wantok Radio Light on 7324.95 was the strongest // by far, with the news till 0914 when they had their usual announcement (“Wantok Radio Light management thanks the National Broadcasting Corporation for allowing us to relay the daily bulletin. Join us at seven AM for the next N-B-C National News”). Checked 4890 till 1000 with no results of anything.https://www.box.com/s/a3e6dadde006d7ea2cb2 contains MP3 audio(Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1)

Philippines9855, FEBC Radio, 1053. Keyboard music (like a xylophone) interval signal and English ID repeated, “This is FEBC Radio broadcasting from Manila, Philippines.” Would have been 1100 sign-on in Vietnamese but RHC signed on 9850 at 1058 overwhelming 9855. Fair until RHC sign-on. (Harold Sellers-BC, Canada)

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

NBC National Radio in Port Moresby has re-activated 4890kHz on shortwave for breaking coverage of the national election results currently underway across the country. This frequency is additional to 6040kHz heard at the same time with the same program, which is a simulcast with Kundu TV. Both transmitters are located at Port Moresby, although 6040 is nominally licenced to Alotau in Milne Bay. However, NBC Milne Bay says it is only broadcasting on 3365 and two FM frequencies.

Am currently listening to NBC Port Moresby 4890 via Sydney Global Tuners with VG signal.. it's a simulcast with Kundu TV network, giving phone numbers to call the studio as 325 9382 or 325 0084, or text SMS 7288. Phone in report from NBC Morobe at 10.52 UTC, late news started at 11.06 UTC. Chief Electoral Officer is calling on Returning Officers to abide by the law after many complaints. NBC swamped with hundreds of texts. Signal deteriorating slightly by 11.12 UTC compared to tune in at 10.40 UTC. So 4890 has been reactivated, and this broadcast is clearly //6040 which is at poor quality in comparison. I have maintained for several years that thehigher power NBC Port Moresby tx were still available for use in special ircumstances. Election 2012 is obviously such a circumstance! Now 11.14 UTC and much harder to copy.

This is the best opportunity in years to hear PNG NBC shortwave outlets because of these crucial national elections and coverage.

If you hear ANY NBC signals this month, please send me details so we can make sure the WRTH 2013 has accurate coverage. Or, at least, as accurate as possible.

3915, Radio Fly via Kiunga, 0931, July 11. In Tok Pisin with the news. At 0935 Pacific Island pop songs, DJ in Tok Pisin and English to 0952 summary, by provinces, of female candidates in this year’s election. Siren at 1000 and several station IDs. Signal poor with heavy local noise.https://www.box.com/s/60bfe93ceb3c7c5fd341 contains a very noisy MP3 edited recording.

6040, NBC Port Moresby with NBC National Radio, the Voice of Papua New Guinea programming, as confirmed today by Dave Ricquish (not viaMilne Bay, “although 6040 is nominally licenced to Alotau in Milne Bay. However, NBC Milne Bay says it is only broadcasting on 3365 and two FM frequencies”, per Dave). July 11 at 0901 ID. Local time check for 7:00. NBC National news with election coverage. Promo at 0914 for “cash giveaway.” Program at 0915 presented by male/female with reports of various arrests being made (one for hijacking of ballot boxes, etc.)

Before 0901 did not hear any PNG stations // with 6040, but with the start of the news found the following stations parallel.

Friday, July 06, 2012

Welcome to the latest edition of the WRN Newsletter which keeps you informed of upcoming programme highlights on WRN Broadcast's English networks that broadcast to North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region.

On June 29th Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) reduced their production of English programmes. This has necessitated a number of schedule changes across our English networks. From June 30th we only broadcast RNW programming on the weekends, please check our schedules for details of the new line-up.

This week on "A Prairie Home Companion", from the renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts, it's a live broadcast performance with Garrison Keillor. With special guests, student musicians, trumpeter Theo Van Dyck and soprano Sage DeAgro-Ruopp, as well as the students and faculty of the Interlochen Arts Camp String Octet. Also on the programme, the Royal Academy of Radio Actors; Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Fred Newman, The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, and the latest News from Lake Wobegon.

In Africa and Europe: 1100 BST / 1200 CET / 1300 CAT

Asia Calling

Sunday, July 8 2012: Asia Calling

This week on "Asia Calling": In a major setback to campaigners seeking justice for the victims of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Disaster, a New York federal court last week dismissed a lawsuit against Union Carbide and its former CEO Warren Anderson. While Union Carbide owned the pesticide plant when the disaster that killed thousands struck – the court said the company bears no responsibility for the tragedy. The ruling has sparked protest from the survivors who have been calling for compensation and the site – which contains thousands of tons of toxic waste – is to be cleaned up for good.

Following its ban on music, Taliban militants have recently bombed several music shops in Pakistan, claiming they are un-Islamic. But the more pressure there is to ban music, the more people find innovative ways to keep listening to their favourite songs. In the tribal and often volatile area of Khyber Agency, young people are now using their cells phones to circumvent the rules. Mudassar Shah joins an underground party in the tribal region of Pakistan to find out how.

In recent decades, South Korea has relied on migrant labor to help keep its economy running. Many come from Southeast and South Asia, but the majority of those foreign workers, about 600 hundred thousand, are from northeast China. They’re ethnically Korean and get special visas. However this year, tens of thousands will have to return home – and many say its unfair. From Seoul, reporter Jason Strother has the story.

For the first time Thailand has played host to an International Buddhist Film Festival.The international films cover a range of largely Buddhist themes from countries as diverse as Japan, Cambodia and Thailand, to more distant links in Argentina and even Iran. In a world fueled by consumption but hinged on economic uncertainty, the filmmakers and organisers say the diverse range of messages conveyed at the festival are relevant to the modern world. Ron Corben has more.

In North America: 2230 ET / 1930 PT

In Europe: 2100 BST / 2200 CET

In Africa and Asia 1100 UTC / 1300 CET / 1200 CAT

ABC/Radio Australia

Innovations" is a showcase of Australian design, discoveries, invention, engineering and research skills.

In Europe: 0800 BST / 0900 CET

In Africa and Asia 1730 UTC / 1830 CET / 1930 CAT

Radio Guangdong

Saturday, July 7and Sunday, July 8 2012: Radio Guangdong

Radio Guangdong, established in October 1949, is a leading radio group in south China. Radio Guangdong programmes cover political, economic, social and cultural issues; programmes about Guangdong, programmes about Guangdong people and programmes linking Guangdong with the world.

In "The State We're In", Jonathan Groubert and his team look at current events from an unexpected perspective.

Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8 2012: Radio Netherlands "Earth Beat"

In this week's "Earth Beat": THE GLAMOUR OF FLYING: Flying used to be such fun, an exhilarating miracle worth getting dressed up for; cocktails served on doilies, hot food and charm. Air hostess Jane Parson shares with Marnie the joy of the glory days. Later, the presenters ask air travellers at Schiphol what they think of Amsterdam’s airport experience.

AN AIRPORT ANTHROPOLOGIST: Manchester International is home to the world’s only airport anthropologist, surely the best person to tell us about the airport environment. Marnie joins Damien O’Doherty for a bit of people-watching.

ANTI-TERROR PLANTS: What if the security experience was less snaking queues and scanning machines and more like a walk in the park? Plants aren’t the first things you’d think of as weapons against the so-called global war on terror… Until now. June Medford at the University of Colorado has created plants that can spot a suspect from several metres away and warn security – by changing colour.

DAMIEN O’DOHERTY, PART 2: A study at Manchester suggests that the security experience puts people in a real fluster, and flustered people are not good for retail. This, as Damian explains, is where clever design comes in.

TINY AIRPORT: We drop into a couple of African airports where order and planning are not particularly apparent though seem to work surprising well. Bram Posthumus, Radio Netherlands West Africa correspondent is our guide.

Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8 2012: Radio Netherlands "Bridges With Africa"

The destruction of Timbuktu’s holy shrines – can things get any worse for Mali? / A special edition on South Sudan – one year on. / It’s Mali again! With its most outspoken rapper, Amkoullel.

Saturday, July 7, Sunday, July 8 and Monday, July 9 2012: Radio New Zealand International

RNZI is New Zealand's only shortwave station, broadcasting to the Island nations of the Pacific. Its broadcasts range from Papua New Guinea in the west across to French Polynesia in the east, covering all South Pacific countries in between.

In this week’s headlines: Polling in Papua New Guinea's general election to be extended / Former world leaders get together in Papeete with advice for the region / Fiji TV faces an uncertain future / Cruise ship operator calls for Vanuatu wharf upgrades / Efforts to improve the performance of Pacifika tertiary students in New Zealand / Could crabs from the region be a medicine of the future?

In North America: Mon - Fri 1200 ET / 0900 PT

Sun 1530 ET / 1230 PT

In Africa and the Middle East: 1700 UTC / 1900 CAT

In Asia and the Pacific: 1600 UTC / 0200 AEDT

In Europe: Sun 1400 BST / 1500 CET Sat 0430 BST / 0530 CET

National Public Radio

Saturday, July 7 2012: NPR "Fresh Air"

"Fresh Air" with Terry Gross, the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues, is one of public radio's most popular programmes. Though "Fresh Air" has been categorised as a "talk show", it hardly fits the mould. Its 1994 Peabody Award citation credits "Fresh Air" with "probing questions, revelatory interviews and unusual insights". A variety of top publications count Gross among America's leading interviewers. The show gives interviews as much time as needed, and complements them with comments from well-known critics and commentators.

In Europe: 1100 BST / 1200 CET

Radio Romania International

Friday, July 6 and Saturday, July 7 2012: Radio Romania International

Tune in to the regular feature "A Challenge for the Future". This edition is titled "Nuclear energy – danger or rescue?", it looks at the conclusions of the nuclear security summit recently held in Seoul. Later, "Practical Guide" will bring some useful information on airlines.

Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8 2012: Radio Romania International

"World of Culture" introduces you to the Vertigo Dance Company, one of the most renowned contemporary Israeli dance companies, which participated in the 2012 Sibiu International Theatre Festival. "RRI Encyclopaedia" talks about the "V.A. Urechia" Library in Galati (Southeastern Romania). Inaugurated in 1890, the library is home to rare 15th century literature. In "Roots" you can discover the traditional Romanian linen shirt, an item that usually appears on tourists' souvenir lists. And, for a more flavorful weekend, listen to "The Cooking Show", which brings you a typical Romanian dish: mititei. The mititei are traditional Romanian short grilled sausages, made of pork, beef and mutton, laced with spices. They are one of the most popular and savory local treats.

Sunday, July 8 and Monday, July 9 2012: Radio Romania International

"Inside Romania" introduces us to the 10th edition of the Infomatrix international IT project competition, held in Bucharest in May this year. And, should you want to unwind, tune in to "All that Jazz", but don't forget about the regular Romanian class – "Romanian without Tears".

Monday, July 9 and Tuesday, July 10 2012: Radio Romania International

"Pro Memoria" browses through Romania's history to mark 200 years since the country lost the province of Bessarabia to Russia. In May 1812, Bessarabia, a region stretching between the Prut and the Niester rivers, was annexed to Russia, under a peace treaty which put an end to the Russian-Turkish war.

Tuesday, July 10 and Wednesday, July 11 2012: Radio Romania International

In "Business Club" the team focuses on Romania's relations with the IMF.

Wednesday, July 11 and Thursday, July 12 2012: Radio Romania International

Listen to "Society Today", with an edition entitled "The Down Syndrome – the Option for Life".

Thursday, July 12 and Friday, June 13 2012: Radio Romania International

Thursday, July 05, 2012

TWIDDLE the dial of a short-wave radio and you never know what you will get. Through the hiss of static you may hear Cuban propaganda, football from Brazil or Chinese opera. Unlike other radio broadcasts, short-wave transmissions, bouncing off the ionosphere, can connect any two points on earth. One hazard is physics: signals wane and wax during the day. Another is governments. In the cold war communist regimes jammed Western stations. Now the threat is budget cuts.

On June 24th the state-funded Radio Canada International (RCI) ended its short-wave broadcasts and went online only. On June 29th Radio Netherlands did the same. Wojtek Gwiazda of the RCI Action Committee, a ginger group, says politicians think short-wave sounds an old-fashioned way to spend taxpayers’ money.